FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 06/18/2015
Contact: Todd Cohen, o: 303.226.4530 c: 303-503-9068, tcohen@goco.org, or
Laura Cardon, 303-226-4531, lcardon@goco.org
Counties: Elbert, El Paso, Gunnison, Larimer, and Prowers.
GOCO invests $4 million to fill gaps in five regional trails
More Coloradans to have walkable access to the outdoors with over 30 miles of new trails
DENVER — Great Outdoors Colorado’s (GOCO) 2015 Paths to Parks Initiative will invest $4 million in four communities to improve connectivity and provide better access to the outdoors.
The GOCO grants will fund construction of 28.1 miles of trail to close gaps in regional trail networks, one of Governor John Hickenlooper’s main priorities for his Colorado Beautiful initiative announced at The Outdoors Summit June 11 in Denver.
Grant details are:
ELBERT COUNTY: Elizabeth to build town’s first regional trail network
With $596,000 from GOCO, the Town of Elizabeth will construct 4.5 miles of trails that will connect four schools, the town library, six parks, and a community garden. Walkable trails are a significant barrier in getting residents outside, particularly youth.
EL PASO COUNTY: Legacy Loop vision to be realized with $1 million from GOCO
The City of Colorado Springs’ Legacy Loop project received $1 million in GOCO funding to complete a continuous ten mile trail. The existing trail corridor already sees 1,000 users per day, but trail gaps mean users have to navigate abrupt dead ends and street traffic. GOCO funding will fill these gaps with 2.3 miles of new trails and the addition of underpasses, pedestrian bridges, and other safe trail crossings.
GUNNISON COUNTY: Three Gunnison regional rails to be linked
The Ridges to Rivers Trails Project was awarded $407,200 from GOCO to connect the Gunnison River Access Trail, Signal Peak/Tenderfoot Mountain Trail, and the Gunnison-Tomichi Valley Ditch Trail. Trail users will also benefit from upgraded amenities, including benches, restrooms, and underpasses. The project will construct a total of 2.6 miles of trail.
LARIMER COUNTY: Fort Collins and Loveland municipal trail works to be connected
Larimer County plans to connect the Longview Corridor Trail with $999,550 from GOCO. The project will construct 4.4 miles of concrete trail to connect the two municipal trail networks of Loveland and Fort Collins. The trail corridor also passes through five open spaces and natural areas.
PROWERS COUNTY: Safe trail access to break barriers keeping Lamar residents from getting outside
The City of Lamar will construct a 7.3 mile loop to create safe access for its residents. The multi-use trail will connect multiple existing trails and community recreational amenities and help overcome current walkability barriers such as highways and railroads.
These grants support Governor John Hickenlooper's Colorado Beautiful initiative by identifying and filling critical gaps in connectivity for trails and open spaces, and GOCO’s new “Protect, Connect, Inspire” strategic plan, which focuses on land preservation, trails, and encouraging more youth to get outdoors.
GOCO is presently seeking applicants for its new Inspire Initiative, which offers between $1 million to $5 million in grants to selected communities to encourage kids to have more outdoor experiences. The program focuses on creating outdoor destinations like parks, improving access to outdoor location through new or improved trails, and expanding existing youth programs that introduce kids to the great outdoors. For more information on the initiative, visit goco.org/inspire.
Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) invests a portion of Colorado Lottery proceeds to help preserve and enhance the state’s parks, trails, wildlife, rivers and open spaces. GOCO’s independent board awards competitive grants to local governments and land trusts, and makes investments through Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Created when voters approved a Constitutional Amendment in 1992, GOCO has since funded more than 4,500 projects in urban and rural areas in all 64 counties without any tax dollar support. Visit goco.org for more information.